Arts, culture, architecture, cuisine, and natural beauty are all things to seek out when it comes to vacation planning. I was privileged to experience all the above during a recent 1,175-mile road trip from Arizona to New Mexico and back for the 2024 National Acura Legend Meet. The icing on the cake was that I also got to reconnect with some of my car-enthusiast family members from around North America.
Since 2005, the Acura Legend community has gathered annually (except for a break in 2020) in recognition and appreciation of Acura’s flagship model from the brand’s early years. Last year, about 30 Legend owners gathered in Lexington, Kentucky. This time around, things moved to one of the most scenic and culturally significant destinations in the southwest: Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Tom, Event Director, and his loyal canine sidekick, Rory, hosted about 50 people from nearly 20 states and two Canadian provinces. Some flew in, others drove, but everyone had a great time.
Play By Play
Santa Fe has a rich history, and today, the community thrives as a hub of artists who appreciate the landscape. Tom planned the event in such a way that attendees could experience some of what the area had to offer.
NALM kicked off on Wednesday, September 11 with a welcome dinner. On Thursday, the group drove to the old mining town of Cerrillos, where turquoise and gold were extracted from the hills during the 1800s. Lunch took place at the Mine Shaft Tavern & Cantina in Madrid about four miles away.
Friday was a very immersive drive day, comprised of a 160-mile loop that took Legend owners first to the St. Francis Plaza and then onward to the Taos area via the High Road. The Taos Pueblo is one of many Native American establishments in New Mexico as well as one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the country. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is believed to have been constructed in about 1325 A.D. A tribal member gave the group a guided tour; NALM participants were able to browse the jewelry, crafts, and pottery available from local vendors.
Armed with a drone, Tennessee-based Legend owner Evan Brian captured some dramatic footage of the convoy of cars driving over the Rio Grande River on the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. At about 600 feet above the river below, the bridge was completed in 1965 and is said to be the seventh highest in the United States. The final stop for the day was at the Classical Gas Museum in Embudo, where vintage gas pumps, neon signs, diecast models, and other memorabilia items were on display.
Grand Finale
The last day of NALM 2024 was Saturday, September 14. Montaño Acura in Albuquerque (about 60 miles southwest of Santa Fe) hosted the group – and anyone from the public who wished to join – for an open house throughout the morning. The dealership greeted attendees with a massive “Welcome Legend Owners” banner hanging on the side of the building. Seven stand-out Legends were privileged to park inside the showroom, while others filled in the surrounding parking lot.
NALM concluded with an evening back at The Sage Hotel with awards, a parts raffle, and dinner. The “Best of Show” trophy went to Alaeldeen, who had an immaculate 1991 Legend sedan that he had driven all the way from Edmonton, Alberta. Ty and Ashley from Waterbury, Vermont (yes, they also drove to New Mexico) received a “Best Interior” award for their 1992 coupe. A handful of others were recognized for special achievements.
Parting Thoughts
Even though the Legend has now been absent from the Acura lineup for 30 years, the enthusiast community for that model thrives and even grows. It is exciting to be part of the movement that embraces the “new era” of classic cars now that vehicles from the 1990s (and soon, early 2000s) reach classic-car age.
As for the future, the NALM momentum will continue and the planning committee is looking to expand the event’s reach. Legend owners will also no doubt play a role in celebrating the Acura brand’s 40th anniversary in 2026.
Fun side note: One evening at NALM, Kevin from Georgia went around to each of the 28 Legends in the parking lot at The Sage Hotel and wrote down their mileage readings. The odometers totaled 5,495,145 miles, 196,255 on average. How many car clubs do you know that have an average of nearly 200,000 miles per vehicle? It just shows you that the Legend was rightfully named!
For historical photos and information on prior NALM events, check out this blog.
Do you or someone you know have a similar annual meet-up with an enthusiast community for a specific vehicle make and model? We’d love to hear your stories.
Source: www.classiccars.com